This video by SciShow gives a good look into this angsty inner workings of the teen brain.

Building Confidence

While your teen may want to demonstrate a confident outer appearance, inside it’s likely they don’t have it all together. They may feel uncomfortable about the way their body looks, their skills and abilities, and how they fit in with their peers.

Not only that, the strain of preparing to launch into college or the working world may have them feeling less than adequate or prepared for the journey plaguing their not-yet-fully-developed-brain with fear and stress.

Risky Business

Although your teen may look more adult than child, the part of the brain responsible for impulse control won’t fully develop until about 25 years of age. The desire for peer approval can sometimes be met with the tough decisions, especially when dealing with drugs, alcohol or promiscuity.

Therefore, when met with opportunity for risky behavior, such as drug or alcohol use or promiscuity, they aren’t yet fully equipped to execute thoughtful responses to dire situations.

Because of that, family can be a critical source of modeling good and thoughtful behavior.

Setting the Stage for the Future

This time in your child’s life is also important in shaping their sense of identity. The age-old question, “what do you what to be when you grow up?” is moving from the dream stage into the action phase.

One YouTube video interviewed several teens to find out how their view of self-played into their future plans. The overarching sentiment was the same. Family plays a role in developing their self identity.

Family Matters

Although you may feel a little confused while taking a virtual-reality hop back to your own adolescence years, you can rest assured the family members individually and as unit still play a key role in your teen’s life.

Having a deeper understanding of what’s transpiring beneath the surface and reminding yourself that this too shall pass are helpful tools to remain in control during the chaos.

Giving your teen a foundation of love and guidance will serve them well while they struggle to grow adult wings as well as impact their future flight in the world.